Post stabilizer



P 39, 1957 w. M. NELSON 3,342,444

POST STABILIZER Filed July 12, 1965 BY mam ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,342,444 POST STABILIZER Walter M. Nelson, Roanoke, Va.,assignor to Allen W. Key and Morris P. Crowder, both of Roanoke, Va.Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,126 9 Claims. (Cl. 248156) Thisinvention relates generally to a post stabilizer. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a post stabilizer for insertion into theground surrounding the post, so as to substantially inhibit sidewise orrocking movement of the post in the ground.

Post stabilizers have been known in the art for many years, during whichtime many attempts have been made to provide a simple, economicalstabilizer that will maintain the post in vertical positions. However,it has been found that these post stabilizers have been substantiallyineffective or too costly to use.

Today the common materials used for posts are steel, iron, or aluminum,which, usually because of their strength, have a relatively smalloutside diameter; therefore, when inserted into the ground, they wouldeasily be subject to sidewise or rocking movement. To substantiallyprevent this sidewise movement, it is the conventional practice to setthe post in a concrete base, which is inserted into and below the groundlevel. While such a base is effective, the cost of theoperationparticularly the laboris an outstanding disadvantage to thisconventional approach.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is toprovide a post stabilizer which is effective in maintaining the post invertical position and yet is sim ple and economical to install with thepost.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a poststabilizer which compacts the ground during insertion and which alsocompacts the ground around thepost in the event of attempted sidewisemovement of the post.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled inthe art from the followingdescription 'when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention surrounding the posthole in the ground;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the post stabilizercomprising the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the post stabilizer, and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the stabilizer in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

Briefly, the present invention relates to a stabilizer for posts and thelike which comprises an elongated open-end sleeve body having aplurality of radially extending fins connected to the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly the length of the body towards its bottom, thefins being equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the body andcross head members secured to the outer portions of the fins adjacentthe upper end of the sleeve,

the cross head members being susbtantially planar and having downwardlytapered sides, the construction being such that the stabilizer sleevebody, when positioned around the post, acts to substantially inhibitsidewise or.

rocking movement of the post.

Viewing FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that stabilizer S, inaccordance with the present invention, embodies or includes a sleevebody 10, which is elongated and open at the top 12 and bottom 14 ends.The sleeve is shown in the drawing to be cylindrical; however, it is tobe understood that the shape is optional and could also be in the formof a right parallelepiped. The stabilizer S is preferably made of astrong metal, such as iron or steel, but may also be made of aluminum orimpact resistant plastic.

3,342,444 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 The significant aspects of theinvention are embodied in the fins 16, which are spaced equi-distantlyaround the outside of the circumference of the sleeve 10, as best shownin FIGURES 2 and 4, and extend radially outwardly at least one-half theoutside diameter of the sleeve. It is important that these fins bearranged substantially approximately apart, in order to achieve anangular compaction of the earth when surrounding the post P. Otherangular arrangements have not proved to be as effective in compactingthe ground. As shown, the fins are secured, as by welds 17, at a pointpreferably down from the top 12, in order to permit a bolt 20, or othersuitable connection such as a nail, to be made through opening 18, whichpasses completely through the sleeve and is adapted to receive the boltso as to secure the post to the sleeve.

The fins 16, as shown, are substantially trapezoidal in shape-that is,they have an upper end 22, which is substantially horizontal andpreferably positioned somewhat below the upper end of the sleeve. Thefin has a tapered leading edge 24, which tapers radially downwardly andinwardly towards the lower or bottom end 14 of the sleeve. This taperededge 24 meets a vertical edge 26 of the fin at 28. The vertical edge 26is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the sleeve 10 andserves the purpose of providing the location for the cross head members30.

Secured to the fins 16 along edge 26 at their approximate mid-point arespade or cross head members 30, which are preferably made of the samematerial as the fins and sleeve. These cross head members 30, as shownin FIGURE 2, are substantially fiat or planar and include a trailingedge 32, which is substantially coplanar with the upper or trailing edge22 of the fin 16. The spade member 30 also has vertical sides 34, whichare parallel to the axis of the sleeve. The forward or leading edges 36of the spade member are tapered downwardly, so as to converge at asubstantially pointed end 38. As shown best in FIGURE 3, the taperededges 36, which form the leading edges of the cross head, are ofsomewhat greater length than the length of the vertical edge 34, inorder to facilitate the entry of the stabilizer in the ground. Thelength of the cross head 30 is such that the point 38 extends below themid-point of the length :of the sleeve'body.

tion, particularly in preventing upward or sidewise move ment.

The embodiment of FIGURE 4 is similar in all respects to the embodimentof FIGURES 1 through 3, except that the cross head member 30 is angledoutwardly and its leading edge away from the long axis of the sleevebody 10 by approximately 5 to 15, and preferably 10. In this event edge26 may be suitably inclined, in order to position the cross head at anangle, or else the welding connection 42 may be such as to position thecross head at the flaring angle. The purpose of the outward flare of thecross head 30 is to enhance operation of the pincering means and also tooperate as a wedge in compacting the ground inwardly towards the sleevebody as the stabilizer is driven into the ground. It should be manifestthat the compaction of the ground in towards the sleeve by means of thecross head adds subrocking or sidewise movement of the post P.

As an example of the advantages attributable to the present invention, atest was made in which a post in the form of a 2" diameter pipe was sunkto a depth of and was anchored by means of 7" x 12 concrete cylindricalslab extending from the top surface of the ground to a depth of 12'.Commercial Sacrete with gravel was used to cast the concrete anchor andwas aged 20 hours at the time of the test. The approximate surface areaof the anchor slab that ofiered resistance to a measured force appliedperpendicular to the axis of the test post was 132 sq. ins.

In comparison to this, a test post which was also a 2 diameter pipe, inaccordance with the present invention, was sunk to a depth of 20" in thesame soil and was anchored by means of the present stabilizer havingfins, each with an area of approximately 26.125 sq. ins. The poststabilizer was then slipped over the post and driven flush with thesurface of the ground. The approximate surface area of the stabilizationfin that offered resistance to a measured force applied perpendicular tothe axis of the test post was 72.250 sq. ins.

The total force required to break the test posts loose from the earthwas measured by using a hydraulic jack assembly with a calibrated dialgauge.

It was determined that both posts withstood identical loading of 1200lbs. before yielding. It should be clear from this test that the use ofthe post stabilizer in accordance with the present invention, which issimply and easily installed, attains the same effectiveness as a castslab of concrete positioned around the same pipe, thus resulting insubstantial savings in time and cost. Also, the post stabilizer issimply installed in a matter of minutes by being forced into the groundwith a standard hammer or sledge, without any necessity for enlargingthe hole receiving the post.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that thereare a number of changes, adaptations, and modifications of the presentinvention which come within the province of those skilled in the art;however, it is intended that all such variations not departing from thespirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof aslimited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

2. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer pertions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve, I

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

3. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially apart around the circumferenceof said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pinceriug means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said cross head member each having substantially pointed ends extendingdownwardly to below the mid-p oint of the length of said body,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

4. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom an top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said cross head member each having substantially pointed ends extendingdownwardly to below the mid-point of the length of said body,

the plane of said cross head extending from the top radially outwardlyaway from the longitudinal axis of said body,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movements of said post.

5. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said cross head member each having substantially pointed ends extendingdownwardly to below the mid-point of the length of said body,

the plane of said cross head extending from the top radially outwardlyaway from the longitudinal axis of said body about 5 to 15,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

6. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said jaw opening extending at least one-third the length of the body,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

7. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said jaw opening extending at least one-third the length of the body,

said cross head member each having substantially pointed ends extendingdownwardly to below the mid-point of the length of said body,

the plane of said cross head extending from the top radially outwardlyaway from the longitudinal axis of said body about 5 to 15,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

8. A stabilizer for posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending at least one-half the greatest internal diameter ofsaid body and substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post 9. A stabilizerfor posts and the like comprising:

an inner sleeve body,

said sleeve 'being elongated and open at the bottom and top ends,

a plurality of radially outwardly extending fins connected to said body,

said fins extending at least one-half the greatest internal diameter ofsaid body and substantially the length of the body and taperingdownwardly and inwardly towards the bottom of the body,

said fins being positioned substantially 120 apart around thecircumference of said body,

W cross head members secured to the radially outer portions of said finssubstantially adjacent the top end of said sleeve,

said cross head members being substantially planar and having downwardlytapering sides,

pincering means positioned between each said cross head member and saidfin,

said pincering means comprising a jaw opening between the taperingportion of said fin and the rear face of said cross head,

said jaw opening extending at least one-third the length of the body,

said cross head member each having substantially pointed ends extendingdownwardly to below the mid-point of the length of said body,

the plane of said cross head extending from the top radially outwardlyaway from the longitudinal axis of said body about 5 to 15,

whereby said stabilizer sleeve body when surrounding a postsubstantially inhibits sidewise movement of said post.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 266,261 10/1882 Copeland 52154741,150 11/1903 Cooper 52/154 1,263,132 4/1918 Sharpe 52155 1,402,5611/1922 Banks 52-156 X FOREIGN PATENTS 651,435 10/1962 Canada.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STABILIZER FOR PORTS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: AN INNER SLEEVE BODY,SAID SLEEVE BEING ELONGATED AND OPEN AT THE BOTTOM AND TOP ENDS, APLURALITY OF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FINS CONNECTED TO SAID BODY,SAID FINS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF THE BODY AND TAPERINGDOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY, SAID FINS BEINGPOSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY 120* APART AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAIDBODY, CROSS HEAD MEMBERS SECURED TO THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTIONS OF SAIDFINS SUBSTANTIALLY ADJACENT THE TOP END OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID CROSS HEADMEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR AND HAVING DOWNWARDLY TAPERING SIDES,WHEREBY SAID STABILIZER SLEEVE BODY WHEN SURROUNDING A POSTSUBSTANTIALLY INHIBITS SIDEWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID POST.